May Day has traditionally been an occasion to celebrate at prodigious length, but this year, BRINGS, the Cologne-based rock combo headed up by fraternal duo Peter and Stephan Brings, hopped the festivities up to a whole new level with their May Polka Party.

They staged an intimate get-together with 13,000 fans and celebrity cameos, rocking Cologne's Lanxess Arena in a four-hour plus marathon show on May 1st. And for all those hard-core revelers that hate to go home, there was a three-hour after-show party.

TSL Productions rolled out RCF products to serve up sweet sound at this bash. The main PA featured 32 active, three-way HDL50-A (2x12", 4x6", 2x1.4") line array units paired with 20 dual-18" SUB 9006-AS subwoofers. The latter setup consisted of a combination subwoofer array in end-fired and gap-toothed cardioid configurations. The RCF RD-Net connected the individual sub clusters in a sub arch with delays timed to provide front-to-end bass coverage.

The crew deployed 36 of the new active RCF line array HDL30-A (2x10", 1.4") top units in four clusters as side-fills and to cover bleacher seating. This was the first time they were deployed in conjunction with 16 active 18" VIO S118 subwoofers from RCF Groups's brand dBTechnologies in a flown cardioid configuration. Another 18 dual-6" HDL-6" line array modules provided near-fill support.

When Montana Pro Audio was called on to replace a 15-year-old sound system at the Beaverhead County Fair Rodeo Arena, they faced a scenario that limited their installation options leaving them to search and source the right product to both provide the coverage they needed and endure the outdoor elements of the rodeo arena. “The only placement options for the bleacher seats were light poles which are irregularly spaced with respect to the bleachers,” notes Montana Pro Audio Integration Manager Ryan Johnston. Plus, “the existing speaker wire to the far side of the arena was buried and would have to be reused for the updated system,” leaving them with pre-specified speaker positions. With that in mind, “We needed to select a loudspeaker system that would withstand the weather with fairly high output and low power ratings. We also needed a series that had different horn patterns that we could deploy based on throw distance, as due to the bleacher/pole layout we had to vary between shorter and medium distance throws.” Johnston continues, “We were also looking for a bracket mount option to simplify rigging and supply a stable mount for the speakers. “Plus the far side speakers would have to be powered with a 70-volt amplifier and stepped back down using an autoformer at the speaker end to maximize the amount of power we could send over the long, smaller gauge wire runs from the existing infrastructure.”

Serving an international fellowship of Christian students, the University of the Nations was born out of Youth With A Mission (YWAM), a highly decentralized international movement of Christians from many denominations. Their history dates back to 1978 when Pacific & Asia Christian University in Kona, Hawaii was founded. As their teachings spread to other campuses throughout the world, now with over 600 locations in 160 different nations, they have since adopted the new moniker University of the Nations. The 40-acre Kona campus is home to some 700 students offering Associate Degrees ranging from the arts to counseling and early childhood education to biblical studies. The campus is also home to the Aloha Lanai Cafeteria, Hawaii’s largest dining facility with a capacity of 3500. Nearly a decade ago Orlando, Florida-based Owens Audio Video Design was called on to implement a new system for their Ohana Court, an outdoor Worship area & basketball Court Being an open-air facility, that system was exposed to nature’s elements and getting tired. Over the years, and with advancements in loudspeaker technology, with the long-time relationship the university has with the integrator, they called upon Owens once again to refurbish the facility, this time specifically requesting a line array solution.

RCF has added Watford, UK based hire company, Just Smile to its growing number of HDL 30-A line array customers around the world.

The events specialists, who service a wide portfolio of projects — ranging from corporate events to Jewish weddings and national sporting fixtures — purchased a 16-box HDL 30-A rig, with six complementary SUB 9006-AS subwoofers. This will not only service their large roster of summer events, including their own promoted BushFest festival, but also the many fireworks spectaculars they undertake towards the end of the year.

Berklee is one of the most distinguished Universities of musical studies in the world, with headquarters in Boston and a branch in Valencia, located in the City of Arts and Sciences.

Berklee campus’s class of 2018 graduated on Monday, July 9th. To celebrate this milestone, students from all four master’s degree programs at Berklee’s campus in Valencia staged a special concert on Saturday, July 7th that took place on an RCF equipped floating stage, opposite the Hemisféric, in collaboration with the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences.

At QC Terme Resorts, elegant spaces combine harmoniously with the latest technologies. Through skilful design, realisation and management of these spas and wellness centres, the "Salus Per Aquam" wellbeing philosophy of ancient Rome is brought back with a modern twist. Evolution over time has transformed the spa into a multi-sensory experience in which to indulge in pleasant moments of total relaxation. QC Terme's cutting-edge centres are located in Bormio (Bagni Nuovi and Bagni Vecchi), Pré-Saint-Didier, Milan, Turin, Rome and San Pellegrino, with prestigious new locations current under construction in Italy and worldwide.

One of the most recent to open, at the heart of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site, a QC spa immersed in the unspoilt nature of the Val di Fassa. QC Terme Dolomiti slots into the landscape with maximum respect for this natural setting. The Ladin culture is revived in the spaces of the spa, through typical furnishings of the local artisan tradition. Three levels of wellbeing, for a total of 4300 square metres, plus swimming pools and outdoor areas that allow you to enjoy the benefits of "forest bathing", immersion in nature as preventive medicine. The sauna also transforms into a cinema: the Sauna Chèder is the first to offer guests the opportunity to enjoy short films dedicated to nature.

The curtain has fallen on the Eleventh FIDS Italian Dancesport Championships - Federdanza, 2018 edition. 20,000 athletes competed, with four esteemed judges who literally conquered the audience and athletes alike: Carla Fracci, Kledi, Garrison and Renato Greco. 159 couples took to the floor for the GrandSlam contests: 92 Standard and 67 Latin from a total of 22 different countries. Six themed arenas - 4 pavilions of 3 thousand square metres each and 2 one thousand square meter theatres, all set up with RCF audio - with a total attendance of over 220 thousand and an average of 20,000 spectators daily. Just over 500 judges and approximately 3500 medals awarded, with golds, silvers and bronzes for singles, couples and groups.

Milan - RCF is amplifying the sound experience in the city's futuristic new CityLife redevelopment project, with articulated audio diffusion for the public areas and a complete centralised sound system in the Allianz Tower. CityLife is located in the Fiera di Milano district, and brings together public and private spaces, luxury homes, three skyscrapers and a modern shopping centre, with access to the "Tre Torri" Metro station. The 170,000 square metre public space also includes green parks and leisure facilities. The entire area is pedestrianised, with an underground traffic and car parking system.

RCF delivered the audio system for CityLife's outside spaces. The design and colours of the speakers used are organically linked to the architectural style of the district, for maximum aesthetic continuity. The sound diffusion is managed using powerful DXT 9000 processors, in compliance with the EN 54 safety standard for evacuation announcements. An entertainment music system delivering refined acoustic performance was also installed.

The district's tallest skyscraper is the Allianz Tower: at 207 metres, 50 floors high, it accommodates up to 3800 people in its vast office space. RCF has developed an audio system with one amplifier per floor, plus the relative speakers. Each individual property can therefore independently control its musical contributions. The DXT 9000 system manages the connection between the various amplifiers and the matrices. Flexicomm BUS technology, developed exclusively by RCF, manages data traffic using copper cables, while audio signals are shared on the Dante network via fibre optics.

The hall is equipped with an advanced automatic volume adjustment system. By analysing the ambient noise, the diffused audio is adapted to ensure maximum acoustic comfort and optimum intelligibility. CityLife is one of the largest urban development areas in Europe. An example of the value, innovation and efficiency of RCF technologies.

As tourists head into Myrtle Beach, they can’t miss the grand columns and sparkling cupola of the majestic Carolina Opry that can be seen from every direction. A majestic palace, the Carolina Opry stands as a showplace on the Grand Strand Carolina beach stretch. It’s been voted as South Carolina’s “Most Outstanding Attraction,” and the only show to win the coveted Governor’s Cup, the state’s highest tourism award. The beginnings date back to 1986, when a young country music singer/songwriter migrated from Nashville to bring a new sound to the beachfront when Calvin Gilmore opened a modest 1,000-seat theater in Surfside Beach. Soon, the shows were constantly selling out. So he started a second show in North Myrtle Beach. Those sold out, too.

Forward to 1993, Gilmore merged the two shows into one when he built the 2,200-seat Carolina Opry. Three sets of stately double doors lead you into grand lobby with 40-foot ceiling featuring custom inset detailing and crystal chandeliers. There’s a grand piano, a historical memorabilia gallery, with twin staircases curving upward to the balcony. As the facility headed into its 25th year of operation, with as many as a dozen shows a week throughout the year, Opry audio manager Mike Cook had been talking with the owners about the need for a new sound system. The existing system dated back to when it first opened. “It was a point source system that was originally designed for coliseum sound and was probably the right solution at the time,” says Cook. Over the years, “as the room has gone through some seating design changes, we recognized there were coverage holes. Plus the system was showing its age.”

As with any venue, ownership questioned the value of a new system. “If I put in a new sound system, will it put more people in the seats?” Cook’s answer, “probably not, but it will give our customers a better experience.” Those memories will bring people back. In consideration of a new system, Cook noted the number one issue they are concerned about is vocal clarity as most shows are family oriented musical theater catering to an older audience. “At the same time, we needed to have the necessary output as we run the shows at 96-98 dB, with select shows such as Time Warp over 100 dB.” Having owned a sound company, Cook was familiar with RCF. “I owned a HDL20 rig, and I would have to bring it in when we were doing national acts such as Kansas, Bill Gaither, America and others.” Those shows required more energy than the family oriented theatrical productions the Opry puts on.

Once RCF introduced the HDL30 line array system, “it was a no brainer,” comments Cook. “With the RDNet control (RCF’s proprietary monitoring and control software), it gave me the capability of running the system from the booth with the ability to grab and do what we want on the fly as needed.” And as the venue runs a variety of productions ranging from the magic and illusion show Pure Magic to the dance and laser Thunder & Lightning to the contemporary Time Warp, Cook has been able to preset performance needs and handle any situation during live shows. “We had planned on installing the system after the first of the year when we were in between productions. Suddenly, two to three weeks into our Christmas show when we are doing a 12-13 shows a week, ownership wanted the new system installed.

Located in Simpson Bay St Maarten, Lotus is a brand-new concept club created by Caribbean powerhouse duo Manny Almirakis & Fred Bianco, the same team behind Tantra SXM. After Hurricane Irma swept through the island and destroyed the old venue, the team rebuilt the venue. Six months later, Lotus was born. With its state of the art RCF sound system along with all new lighting setup and chic mosaic decor the venue is back as the Caribbean’s number one hot spot.